Trump officials reportedly told GOP to 'back off' efforts to oust Max Miller: 'Let voters decide'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s political team recently urged Ohio Republicans to hold off on a public pressure campaign against Rep Max Miller as White House officials grew more confident he would remain in the race for re-election, POLITICO reported, citing three people familiar with the private discussions.

According to three people granted anonymity to discuss private conversations, the intervention came as Miller continued to insist he had no plans to withdraw despite serious domestic abuse allegations, which he denies.

Earlier, some White House officials and Republicans had urged Miller to drop out of his re-election race.

White House backs Max Miller's reelection bid 

Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio GOP Sen Bernie Moreno, has accused him of pointing a gun at her head, throwing boiling water on her, violently pushing her against a wall, and breaking their two-year-old daughter’s collarbone.

Miller denies the allegations.

Politico reported that administration officials initially urged Miller to step aside but reversed course after concluding he was determined to stay in the race.

Officials reportedly argued internally that continued public pressure would only make it harder for party leaders to unite behind his candidacy against a Democratic opponent.

“They basically told us to back off,” said one Ohio Republican involved in the conversations, “and let the voters decide.”

At one point, Republicans in the state discussed scheduling the required meeting to replace Miller in hopes of pressuring him to drop out of the race, according to two of the people.

However, Ohio Republicans abandoned that effort after White House officials warned them that Miller would not withdraw and that the party would likely have to defend the seat without a new GOP candidate.

Ohio Republicans divided over Max Miller

The reversal has left Ohio Republicans in a difficult position, with some believing they have no choice but to support a candidate whom his own former father-in-law,

Sen Bernie Moreno, has publicly said needs psychological help and is unfit for office.

Sen Jon Husted has also called on Miller to resign. House Speaker Mike Johnson declined immediate comment, saying he would wait for the outcome of the ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation.

Miller’s Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, said, “As I’ve said before, if the accusations against Max Miller are proven true, he should be in prison, not in Congress. It’s unfortunate that Miller has chosen to keep putting his ex-wife and her family through this nightmare in the public spotlight,” in a statement issued after it became official that Miller would remain on the ballot.

“But let me be perfectly clear. I got into this campaign to fight for my neighbors and for working people across this district. That continues to be my north star."

Another White House official last week noted the growing sense of inevitability that Miller would remain in the race after the two-term lawmaker and former Trump aide began comparing his situation to past efforts to bring down Trump over similar allegations of abuse and misconduct. 

“I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” the White House official told POLITICO after the president spoke with Miller about the matter.